Rotterdam dockworkers protest cargo handling by seafarers

Rotterdam dockworkers protest cargo handling by seafarers    Unions representing dockworkers in the port of Rotterdam, supported by the European Transport Workers’ Federation, have protested new rules approved by the Rotterdam city council Nov. 2 that allow seafarers on board small ships to undertake cargo lashing and securing operations.
   Threatening the registered dockworkers’ traditional monopoly over cargo handling in the port, the Rotterdam mayor and aldermen have decided to allow the crews of ships up to 170 meters (558 feet) long calling at the port of Rotterdam to lash and secure cargo.
   The Dutch dockworkers’ section of the FNV-Bondgenoten union has asked the city council not to make any changes to the previous regime.
   The European Transport Workers’ Federation said its dockers’ and seafarers’ sections support the Rotterdam dockers in rejecting the decision taken by Rotterdam city council.
   “The seafarers and dockers believe that work which has traditionally and historically been undertaken by dockers should continue to be performed by shore-based, registered and well trained lashing gangs,” the European Transport Workers’ Federation said. It argued that seafarers are subject to fatigue, and asking them to carry out additional cargo operations would be unsafe.
   The European Transport Workers’ Federation also urged the European Commission to investigate this development.